Mud mixing apparatus



Nov. 19, 1957 w. P. THOMAS MUD MIXING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1954 WILL/AM PTHOMAS' o INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Nov. 19, 1957 w. P. THOMAS 2,813,702

MUD MIVXING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILLIAM R THOMAS INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent MUD MIXINGAPPARA-TUS William P. Thomas, Fort -Worth, Tex.

Application November 8, 1954, SerialNo.46.7',26'1

'3 Claims. (Cl.'25-9.-*4)

This invention relates .to apparatus .:for .selectively proportioning and mixing dry ingredientsior drilling mud.

In the rotary method of drilling oil and gas wells, drilling mud is circulated down through the drill stem and bit, and is then circulated upwardly around 'thedrill stem to the earths surface. The upward flow of the-mud carries the cuttings from the bottom of the well, and

vupon reaching the earths surface the ,mud is.directed to a pit where the cuttings are allowed to settle out. The mud, free of cuttings, is then recirculated. The requirements of density and viscosity of the mud vary depending on the depth of the well and the types of earth formations encountered. Thus, the proportions of ingredients are changed during the drilling operation, and as the well becomes deeper additional volumes of mud must be added.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for accurately metering dry ingredients when adding the same to the mud system of a rotary drilling rig.

A particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus for the described purpose capable of receiving ingredients directly from shipping containers, and whereby intermediate handling (such as resacking) is eliminated.

Another object is to provide apparatus which thoroughly mixes the mud ingredients before the same are pumped into a well.

A further object is to provide mud mixing apparatus capable of continuous operation while the well is being drilled.

These and other objects will become apparent to those versed in the art upon consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken elevation and sectional view of apparatus embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a metering valve mounted on the inner end of an air conveyor in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical broken section of the outer end of one of the air conveyors, and showing an air inlet line connected therewith.

The exemplary form of the invention shown includes a rectangular base of channel iron and has an arrangement of spaced vertical supports 11 on each end thereof for supporting shipping container hoppers 12 which receive standard shipping containers 13 in a tilted inverted position. Each shipping container hopper 12 is composed of an inclined supporting plate 14 and an opposite side wall 15, the lower portion 16 of which is downwardly and inwardly inclined for supporting an air conveyor 17, hereinafter described. The lower edge of the supporting plate 14 and the upper edge of the wall are flanged as at 18 and 19 respectively so as to define a plane perpendicular to the upper surface of said supporting plate. A rectangular seal 20 is positioned on the flanges 18 and 19 and has a central opening 21 for accommodating a door 22 in the shipping container 13. As shown in Figure 2, the door 22, ordinarily on the top of the concommunicating with the shipping container hopper '12 2,813,702 Patented .Nov. 19, 19 57 'therethrough. The surface of the container 13 around the door 22 engages the seal 20 and .thus provides Ya removable closure for the hopper 12. The ends of "the container hopper 12'have walls 23,and 24 which-extend downwardly at each end thereof. and additionally support the,air conveyor 17.

The air conveyor 17 is comprised of a rectangular bottom channel portion 25 and an upper duct portionfl 26 where it joins the same around the open lower end of the latter. The air conveyor 17 extends to a central conical mixing hopper.27 and projectsinwardl'ythereof where it is provided with a metering valve 28. The lower edges of the duct 26 and the upper edges of .the channel 25 are outwardly flanged and receive porous sheet material 29 therebetween. In the presentinstance, a heavy fabric is employed, but other suitable porous material may be used. An air inlet line 30lis connected with an opening 31 in the lower surface of the air duct channel 25 by means of a flange 32 welded or otherwise secured in place. Preferably, the air inlet'30 is connected with the channel 25 near the outer end thereof.

.The inner end of each air duct 26 is provided with a metering valve 28, heretofore referred to, which is comprised of a stationary disk 33 and a rotating disk 34. The stationary disk 33 includes a relatively large opening 35 which registers with a corresponding opening 36 in the closed end 37 of the duct 26. The rotating disk is mounted on a bolt 38 positioned through the center thereof and threadedly engaged in the center of the stationary disk 33. There are additional openings 39, 40, 41 and 42 of progressively increased diameters through the rotating disk 34 and arranged to register with the large opening 35 in the stationary disk when the rotating disk is turned. A flange 43 is welded in a canted position around the inner end of each otherwise closed duct 26 and is provided with bolt holes 44 for securing the same to the outer surface of the conical mixing hopper 27.

The lower end of the conical mixing hopper 27 is provided with a mixing bowl 45 in the form of a relatively large pipe elbow. The discharge end of the mixing bowl is connected with a discharge pipe 46 which is connected with the suction side of a mud pump, not shown. The side of the bowl 45 opposite its discharge is provided with a smaller pipe or nozzle 47 which, in turn, is connected with a jet line 48 by means of a coupling 49. The jet line 48 extends to the slush pit for receiving the liquid drilling mud from which the cuttings have settled. Additionally, but not shown, the jet line 48 is connected with a source of water through a valve arrangement and whereby additional quantities of water may be added as required.

Other details of construction shown include a cover 50 for the conical mixing hopper 27 and a jib crane 51 positioned between the shipping container hoppers 12 and to one side of the mixing hopper 27. The crane 51 shown includes a post 52, a rotating collar 53 on the upper end thereof and a jib 54. The collar 53 is supported by a shoulder 56 around the post 52, and the jib 54 extending therefrom is additionally supported by means of a tie rod 55 connected with the upper end of the rotating collar and the upper surface of the jib intermediate the ends thereof. It is to be understood that suitable lifting tackle, not shown, is mounted on the jib 54 for raising the shipping containers 13 and placing them in their described positions in the container receiving hoppers 12.

In operation, a container 13 containing a heavy powder composition, such as barite, is placed in one of the conemptying its contents into the duct 26 of the air con veyor 17, and a shipping container 13 containing a light powder, such as bentonite, is placed in the other con-' tainer receiving hopper 12 in the same manner. The metering valves 28 are set to permit the desired quantities of material to pass therethrough, and air pressure is supplied through the inlet lines 30. By reason of the admission of air through the porous surface 29 separating the channel 25 and the duct 26, the material in the latter is moved downwardly through the restrictive valve 28. The dry ingredients then fall to the lower portion of the mixing hopper 27 from where it is moved to the pump by means of the discharge pipe 46 connected therewith. Previously mixed mud or water is added by means of the jet line 48.

It is to be understood that any desired number of in the foregoing. It is also to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within I the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Mud mixing apparatus comprising a mixing hopper,

means connecting the lower end of said hopper with a 25 discharge pipe, means supplying liquid to the last said means, dry ingredient hoppers positioned outwardly from the first said"iiop'p'er, air conveyors connecting said dry ingredient hoppers with said mixing hopper, and metering valves mounted on the inner ends of said air conveyors.

2. Mud mixing apparatus comprising at least one inclined air conveyor, a closed mixing hopper connected with the lower end of said air conveyor, a removable cover on said hopper, .a metering opening in said air conveyor in the lower portion thereof and communicating with said closed mixing hopper, a mixing bowl connected with the lower portion of said mixing hopper, said mixing'bowl including a discharge outlet therein, and a liquid supply line communicating with said mixing bowl.

3. Mud mixing apparatus as defined in claim 2 and wherein said metering opening in said air conveyor includes a metering valve for varying the capacity thereof.

5 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS 1,216,723 Pearce Feb. 20, 1917 1,541,352 Halliburton June 9, 1925 2,578,116 White et al Dec. 11, 1951 i g FOREIGN PATENTS 551,485 France Apr. 6, 1923 

